Chapter 6

Conflict

The sun was setting gracefully over the long rolling hills that bordered the western lands. Kagome was nearly to the castle gates, carrying a large basket of varied herbs, beside her was Kaede, walking slow and quietly. It was serene.

Kagome had been at the western castle for roughly a week. She had trained with Kaede in more effective healing techniques, she had learned a few new medicinal herbs, but she had barely seen the Lord of said castle.

She would see him in the courtyard, the dojo, sometimes even near the fields; but he would always be gone when she would try to talk to him. He was always near, but never in her reach. She was disheartened by this.

Even though he was generally a rude, arrogant, ego-inflated demon, he still had shown her kindness, that she found not everyone got a chance to experience. In fact, she had told her stories to the other mikos in the bed chamber's common room, and they were flabbergasted. Some even believed her to be lying.

Even demons of the castle had made her the subject of their gossip. She would constantly notice their stares as they whispered to one another, some of the female demons sneered as she would walk by. She was overwhelmed by this chaos.

So long had she been on her own, with no others to chat with. She had been fine with that, she never felt alone, aside from missing her mother. Now, she was surrounded by people and demons, and felt lonelier than ever.

"What bothers ye, child?" Kaede drew her from these thoughts, and Kagome released a sigh.

"I feel like I don't belong here. I feel like an outsider." She picked at the frayed basket in her hands, and the elder priestess chuckled.

"You were brought here personally by Lord Sesshomaru, isn't that enough?" Kagome glanced over at the old woman sheepishly. While it was true that he had, quite literally, carried her into the western castle, she still felt he had no desire for her to be here.

"He hardly ever speaks to me, besides, I was the one who asked to come here." Kaede nodded, and stopped at the front gates, waiting for them to open.

"Ah, but he has granted thy request. He does not accept those requests so lightly. He must have seen something within ye, child." Kagome nodded, but was not convinced. They began making their way into the tall wooden gates, and she then heard the shouting.

"I'm tired of thessse filthy humans in the lands that are rightfully ours! They ssstink up the place!" A tall demon, some sort of reptilian, was drunkenly shouting to the guards that surveillance the inner city. They were trying to restrain him, but he only got louder. "It'sss the truth and you know it you ssswine! Don't touch me!" One of the guards went flying into a small meat stand, causing splinters to fly everywhere. Kagome gasped softly, covering her mouth with her hand in shock. This caught the attention of the serpent who blinked a rancid yellow eye her way.

"Well, well, if it ain't Lord Sesshomaru's sssecond little pet." He sauntered over to her, towering her angrily. "You don't dessserve to be here, human." Every step she took backwards, he took forward. Kaede made her way in front of her in a protective stance.

"Leave the girl be, Dracenia. She has done nothing to ye." He hissed and backhanded her across the street. Kagome dropped her basket to run to Kaede's side; before she could she felt a hand dig into her hair, causing her scalp to scream in a stinging pain. She whimpered and glared at the demon before her.

"Let me go, you bastard." Her request fell on deaf ears as he lifted her up to his eye height. She held onto his arms to keep her hair from ripping out. He chuckled and slithered his tongue at her.

"Let's see why the Lord finds you so fascinating." His jaws opened up, and Kagome let one of her hands drop to her side, reaching in her sash for the small dagger. Getting closer to his mouth, she filled the blade with her energy, and slashed the demons arm. He dropped her, and screamed in pain, his arm hanging by a few tendons by his side. She quickly scrambled up from her crumpled position into a defensive one.

"You insufferable wench!" He moved to attack her again, claws growing in length, but her vision was suddenly consumed with a silvered white. She blinked, and looked up at Sesshomaru, feeling relief deep in her stomach. Although, she was mildly worried for what he would say about her causing such a scene. She moved out of the way of the two demons, to Kaede's side, making sure she was unharmed.

"Are you alright?" Kaede nodded solemnly, watching the interaction, along with everyone else in the inner city. A crowd had formed to watch the serpents punishment with great interest. Kagome watched as well, somewhat concerned for the scaled demon who currently had the demon lord's hand wrapped around his throat.

"You dare touch what is mine?" Kagome heart skipped at his words before noticing his eyes had bled a deep red, and he mouth had lengthened into a long row of snapping razor teeth. His beast was gaining control, and his voice was echoed with a deeper, more feral voice. It echoed with a ferousity so intense, she was taken a back. She heard the serpent pleading for his life, and she stood up, moving closer to Sesshomaru.

"Sesshomaru! Wait!"

-S-

He was following her on the path to the castle, listening to her conversation with the old woman. He felt oddly displeased that she felt unwelcome. He shouldn't care, no, he didn't care. Yet here he was, shadowing her without her knowing. It was the only way to quiet his beast, to make it calm. To give him some peace.

He slipped through a side enterance away from the miko's sight, and made it through a few stalls before he saw something that made his rage flow through his body. A weak serpent was holding her by her long, black tresses.

Before he could make his way to her, she had nearly slashed the demon's arm off, and moved herself into a position that made his chest swell with pride. She looked truly like a female demon, with her wild mess of hair framing a look that burned into his soul. She was only a human, but she had the soul of a warrior. His beast growled with pleasure.

His eyes snapped to the demon who made his way back to her threateningly. A snarl ripped through him and Sesshomaru made his way in front of her, grabbing the demons throat. He dipped his glowing poison claws into the serpent's neck and felt his control slipping away.

"You dare touch what is mine?" The words had slipped out, but despite his own shock, he maintained his rage, a growl ripping through his throat. His beast urged him to kill the weak demon in front of him for touching what was his.

"No, Lord Sesshomaru, you missssunderstand!" The serpent hissed desperately. "Ssshe was the one who began this whole feud!" Sesshomaru could scent the deception in the serpent and nearly lost control to his beast.

"You take me for a fool?" His grip tightened, and the serpents eyes rolled back slowly.

"Pleasssse my lord" Sesshomaru was ready to rip out his throat, but he had heard her voice echoing softly in the background.

"Sesshomaru! Wait!" He turned his head to her, studying her concerned face. Did she care for this peasant? His anger grew, and he snarled at the snake in front of him. He would die. He felt a small hand on his arm, and turned to look at her once more. "Please, Lord Sesshomaru, let him go."

"Why do you wish for him to live, miko? Are you close to this weakling?" His growls were lower now, but they still persisted. She shook her head, and moved slightly closer.

"Just come back to yourself, he isn't worth all of this anger." She whispered to him. Of course he wasn't worth it. This wasn't because of him, it was... His eyes widened and then narrowed in confusion. This was... for her? Why did she make him react this way? He threw down the demon who gasped for air violently, coughing up blood and small volumes of green poison.

"Touch her, even look at her again, and you will lose your pathetic life." With that, Sesshomaru grabbed the girl, and began making his way into the castle, away from prying eyes. She was silent against him, but his chest still released residual growls from the large burst of demonic energy that flowed through his veins. He unconsciously scented her, and relaxed slightly at the smell of her undisturbed scent. He was angry this had happened, and angry that it was her fault once more. He had two questions repeating in his mind; why did this girl cause so many problems for him, and why did he allow it?